Two Americans among 152 dead in Pakistan plane crash

ISLAMABAD — 2 Americans were among the 152 passengers and crew members who died Wednesday when an Airbus A321 operated by a private Pakistani carrier crashed amid heavy rain into the hills that surround the capital of Islamabad . It was the worst air crash in Pakistani aviation history.

The Airblue plane was on a flight from Karachi when it crashed at around 10 a.m. local time. It carried 146 passengers and a crew of 6.

The aircraft had made one pass at landing before airport controllers ordered it to abort, but it remained unclear why it then flew so low and seemingly straight toward the cloud-covered hills. The plane disintegrated on impact, scattering the wreckage. Thick smoke rose from the crash site.